PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Carlton Leben (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silva has chosen The Night as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Leben
vs
Silva

185 cm
19
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Knock Out Artistry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Carlton Leben!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Silva!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Luis Engracia and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Silva scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Silva trying to control the action but Leben is working from the bottom.
Silva in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Leben tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Silva wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Silva decides to stand back up. Silva steps back and let's Leben get back to his feet.
Leben throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Silva's waist but Silva gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Leben off to one side.
Silva throws a nice outside leg kick.
Silva shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Leben counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Silva manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Silva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Silva pulls Leben in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leben is stalling in the full guard.
Leben wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.
Leben stopping the sweep attempt from Silva.
Leben prevents Silva from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Silva is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva has a closed guard, preventing Leben from standing up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Silva lands a nice shot to the body.
Leben is breathing heavily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Silva looking to stall.
Leben wants a takedown but no success here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Leben is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Silva's half guard.
Silva tries to roll over but Leben keeps him under control.
Leben throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Silva looks like he's trying to stand up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Silva manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Leben tries to free his leg and advance position but Silva is retaining full guard.

Leben avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Leben wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.

Silva had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Leben defends it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silva controlling Leben's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Silva dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Leben is looking to clinch but Silva is avoiding it.
Leben tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Silva swivels and escapes.
Silva fails with the takedown

and Leben counters with a takedown into side control.
Silva holds on to Leben's head and controls the position momentarily.
Silva struggling a bit here.
Leben looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Silva is avoiding damage well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Leben is controlling him well.

Leben swings around for an armbar but Silva sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Leben's guard.
Silva wants to control from the top but Leben keeps moving.
Silva landing some decent shots from guard.
Leben keeping full guard, as Silva tries to pass.
Leben trying to control the position.
Carlton Leben overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Silva controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Silva stands and steps away. Leben gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Silva tries to clinch up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Silva.
Silva fails with a takedown attempt.
Carlton Leben has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thiago Silva.
Leben misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Leben counters with a series of strikes. Silva will be more careful next time no doubt.
Silva tries to clinch up but Leben circles away and keeps his distance.
Silva takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Silva tries to land a front kick but Leben steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Silva just misses with a punch to the body.
Silva tries to bum rush Leben with a series of wild strikes but Leben uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Leben fails with the takedown.
Carlton Leben is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Silva scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Leben tries to roll over but Silva keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leben has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Silva is working away from the top position though.
Leben is not content to let Silva control the position.
Leben trying to control here.
Silva is taking a breather. Leben says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Leben won't allow Silva to pass to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Carlton Leben will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Silva fails with the takedown.
Silva tries to bum rush Leben with a series of wild strikes but Leben uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Silva tries to clinch up.
Leben doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Silva counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Leben!
Silva avoids the attempt from Leben to control.
Silva is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Leben tries to improve his position but instead Silva has taken his back!
Silva lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Silva.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva looking for the choke but no joy.
Leben trying to control the hands but Silva breaks the grip.
Silva is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Silva lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Leben covers up after that shot from Silva.
Silva trying to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leben has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Silva.
Leben looking very determined here, making life difficult for Silva.
Silva lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Leben hold on?!
Leben looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Silva trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Leben doesn't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Leben trying to control the hands but Silva won't let him.
Leben is trying to get back to his feet but Silva has full control of the position and if anything, Leben has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Leben trying to control but not successfully.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Silva controlling the positon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Silva lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Silva is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Silva trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thiago Silva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Silva has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thiago Silva!